Apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles



March 25, 1969 J. an. FORREST ETAL 3,434,438

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS 0F TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Sheet of 6 Filed May 8, 1967 INVENTORS a 0 9 m E M mm N m R 5 H PE T EN. A 2 m6 March 25, 1969 J. B. FORREST ETAL 3,434,438

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS OF TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Sheet Filed May 8, 1967 INVENTORS TOSEPH B. FORREST G GENE E. HART BY ATTOR E-YS Mar h 1969 J. B. FORREST ETAL 3,434,438

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS OF TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Filed May a, 1967 Sheet 3 of 6 INVENTORS JOSEPH e. FORREST E;

BYGENE e. HART ATTO NEYS M r h 1969 J. B. FORREST ETAL 3,434,438

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS OF TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Filed May a, 1967 Sheet 4 of6 INVENTORS JOSEPH B. FORREST & GENE E. HART TD A1$TOR cYs March 25, 1969 J. B. FORREST ETAL 3,434,433

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS OF TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Sheet Filed May 8, 1967 lbllllllll VQMN March 25, 1969 J. B. FORREST ETAL 3,434,438

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS OF TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Filed May 8, 1967 Sheet 6 INVENTORS JOSEPH B. FORREST 5 B$ENE E. HART M EJQirLuL a TDQUAJ 1L8 ATTOR EYS nite States Patent 3,434,438 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE ENDS 0F TUBULAR FABRIC ARTICLES Joseph B. Forrest and Gene E. Hart, Charlotte, N.C., assignors to Southern Mill Equipment Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed May 8, 1967, Ser. No. 636,844 Int. Cl. D0511 23/00, 21/00, 37/00 US. Cl. 112-2 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus that automatically closes the end of a tubular fabric article, such as the toe of a stocking, by clamping the article inwardly adjacent the end and advancing it to the mouth of suction means that positions the article end outwardly of the clamping in a feeding disposition in which it is fed while clamping through closing means, such as a sewing machine.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to the field of closing, seaming or sewing of tubular fabric articles and particularly to the positioning and feeding of such articles for and during closing, seaming or sewing in a manner that provides automatic operation.

Particular advantage is obtained with the present invention when it is incorporated in an overall operation of which closing, seaming or sewing is a part. An example of such an overall operation is disclosed in Edwards and Levine US. patent application Ser. No. 430,132, filed Feb. 3, 1965, nOW Patent No. 3,420,196, issued Jan. 7, 1969, for Method and Means for Processing Tubular Fabric Articles, which discloses a continuous operation for inspecting, seaming and turning of stockings wherein stockings are placed on a plurality of traveling forms and while on the forms are inspected and manually fed through a sewing machine that closes the stocking ends with the stockings remaining on the forms from which they are subsequently everted and removed automatically. Use of the apparatus of the present invention in this overall operation completely automates the seaming operation such that manual positioning and feeding during seaming is eliminated.

Another prior art device in this field is known commercially by the name Detexomat and is manufactured by Detexomat Limited, High Wycombe, England. It is disclosed in Bryan US. Patent No. 3,327,664 and utilizes a single stocking form that advances longitudinally to locate the stocking toe thereon between two pairs of spaced clamps that close on the stocking to hold it as the form retracts and as the stocking is stripped completely from the form by the operator. The outer pair of clamps is stationary and the inner pair is pivoted to feed the stocking toe to an adjacent sewing machine that seams the toe closed. This prior device requires a longitudinally movable form that is not readily adaptable to a multiple form operation and has the further disadvantage of the outer pair of clamps being stationary while the inner pair is movable. In contrast, the apparatus of the present invention has clamping means that advance the stocking to suction means such that the initial clamping can be accomplished conveniently at a spacing from the suction means and the closing means with the advantage that it can be used with a form or a plurality of traveling forms without requiring any longitudinal form reciprocation. Further, the suction means of the apparatus of the present invention acts on the stocking toe in a substantially continuous and uniform manner to position it for feeding 3,434,438 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 during movement of the clamping means to the closing means.

Summary of the invention The apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles of the present invention includes means for clamping the article inwardly of and closely adjacent the end to be closed, which clamping means is movable relative to closing means that close the article end as it is fed through the closing means by the clamping means. The article end is positioned in proper feeding disposition for closing by pneumatic suction means located in advance of the closing means and operable 0n the clamped article end outwardly of the clamping means. With this arrangement an article can be clamped remotely of both the closing means and the suction means such that only the clamping means need be movable, and the suction means will act on the article end subsequent to initial clamping and will continue to act to position the article end for feeding during subsequent feeding movement of the clamping means past the closing means.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is adapted for automatically closing the toes of stockings sequentially as the stockings are carried on a series of horizontal forms that travel along a lateral path and have free longitudinal ends at which the stocking toes are located. A stocking clamping mechanism having a pair of vertically opposed clamping elements extending laterally therefrom is slidably supported on a carriage member for movement lengthwise of the forms between an inner position between forms at which it clamps a stocking carried on an adjacent form and an outer position beyond the forms and adjacent the mouth of suction means, which suction means mouth faces the forms and is aligned with the feeding line of an adjacent toe closing means for positioning of the stocking toe outwardly of the clamping mechanism for feeding to the closing means. The clamping mechanism is pivotally mounted for camming angularly with respect to the suction means mouth to reorient the stocking toe angularly in a preferred disposition for closing, and the lower of the clamping elements extends outwardly to an edge that is parallel to and closely adjacent the direction of closing means feed when the clamping mechanism is pivoted thereat for support of the stocking toe thereat. The aforementioned carriage member is slidably supported on a frame member for movement parallel to the feeding direction of the closing means to move the clamping mechanism for toe closing feed of the stocking with the carriage member movement synchronized with the travel of the forms so that the stocking is not completely removed from the form during the closing operation and will remain thereon after it is released by the clamping mechanism following the closing operation. This preferred embodiment functions to perform the entire toe closing operation automatically without manual handling or guiding and without removing the stockings from the forms such that toe closing can be a portion of an overall automatic operation.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown incorporated in an overall automatic stocking processing operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the clamping mechanism in its inner position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the position of the elements following completion of the closing operation;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the preceding figures and including the means for controlling the automatic operation of the apparatus; and

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a stocking that has had its toe closed by operation of the apparatus of the preceding figures.

Description of the preferred embodiment The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings incorporated in a device for automatically inspecting, seaming and turning ladies hosiery of the type shown in the aforementioned Edwards and Levine US. patent application Ser. No. 430,132, now Patent No. 3,420,196, which has a series of laterally spaced horizontal forms F traveling in a lateral path and having extending free ends E. As disclosed in the aforementioned application, the forms travel sequentially through an inspection station at which an operator places stockings with open toe ends on the forms with the toe ends at the free ends of the forms and at which the operator inspects the stockings while they are on the forms. The forms with the stockings thereon then travel through a toe closing station at which an operator draws the open toe ends of the stockings from the forms without completely removing the stockings and manually feeds the toe ends to a sewing machine M that closes the stocking toes, following which an air blower B directs a stream of air onto the stockings away from the toe ends to draw the stockings back onto the forms in position for subsequent everting and removal of the stockings pneumatically through the forms, which are formed hollow for this purpose. As the apparatus of the present invention relates to the seaming aspect of this overall operation, only the seam ing station elements of the aforementioned device are shown and described herein.

The sewing machine M is located at an outward spacing from the free ends E of the forms F on a table 10 with the direction of feed through the sewing machine M being parallel with the direction of form travel and with the machine operating to effect seaming at a stitch point P. Any one of several different types of sewing machines may be used and for this reason the details of the sewing machine construction and operation are not included herein. One type of machine that is suitable for this operation is the machine known commercially as Model 39500AB made by Union Special Machine Co. Thi machine has a scissors-like cutter in advance of the stitch point P to trim the material from the stocking outwardly of the feeding path with the trimmings being removed through a pneumatic suction tube 11, and a hot wire tail trimmer following the stitch point P for trimming the chain stitch tail trailing from the stocking toe after seaming, which trimmed tail is removed by a pneumatic suction tube 12.

The pneumatic suction tubes 11 and 12 are both connected to a manifold fitting 13 that opens into a collection box 14 below the rear of the table 10 for collection of the trimming and tail scraps therein and from which they are periodically removed through the box lid 14. Suction is created in the collection box 14 and connected tubes 11 and 12 by a conventional pump 15 driven through a chain connection by a conventional motor 16 with the pump 15 drawing air from the collection box 14 through the connecting conduit 17 that is connected to the box on the opposite side of a divider screen 14" from the scrap collection portion thereof.

Also connected to the manifold fitting 13 of the suction system is the suction means 18 of the present invention, which has a nozzle portion 19 having a wide flat flared mouth 20 facing the forms F and in general alignment with the path of feeding to the sewing machine M in advance of and closely adjacent the sewing machine. This suction means mouth 20 is of a width sufficient to receive the toe T of a stocking S fed thereto. This nozzle portion 19 is mounted at the horizontal level of the sewing machine feed on upstanding bracket 21 that is attached to the table 10.

Stockings S are advanced to the suction means 18 and through the sewing machine M for closing of the toes thereof by clamping means 22 that includes a clamping mechanism 23 having a pair of vertically opposed clamping elements 24 and 25 extending laterally therefrom for movement vertically into and out of clamping engagement with a stocking on an adjacent form. The clamping elements have mounting portions 24 and 25', respectively, that are vertically slidable between two pairs of vertical guide posts 26 of the clamping mechanism 23, which extends upwardly beyond the guide posts for mounting of a pair of vertical piston-cylinder mechanisms 27 and 28, the rod 27' from one of which extends downwardly and is fixed to the mounting portion 24' of the upper clamping element 24 for movement thereof and the rod 28' from the other of which extends downwardly through the upper clamping element mounting portion 24' and is fixed to the lower clamping element mounting portion 25' for movement thereof. These piston cylinder mechanisms 27 and 28 are double acting pneumatic mechanisms that are controlled for simultaneous opposite operation to manipulate the clamping elements 24 and 25 for clamping and unclamping of a stocking S therebetween.

The aforementioned vertical guide posts 26 of the clamping mechanism 23 are supported on a flat base portion 29 that is pivotally mounted on a slide member 30 that has an upstanding pivot post 31 on which the base portion 29 pivots. The base portion 29 and the elements supported thereon are maintained on the slide member 30 by a pair of screws 32 threadably attached to the slide member 30, extending upwardly through arcuate slots 33 in the base portion 29 and having enlarged heads that extend laterally beyond the slots 33 for retention of the base portion 29.

The clamping mechanism 23 is normally maintained in a position in which the clamping elements 24 and 25 eX- tend parallel with the direction of travel of the forms F by a horizontally disposed spring 34 that has one end attached to an upstanding post 35 on the base portion 29 and its other end attached to an upstanding post 36 on the slide member 30, which latter post 30 extends through one of the arcuate slots 33 of the base portion 29.

The slide member 30 is mounted in the slideway 37 of a horizontally extending carriage member 38, which slideway 37 extends parallel with the longitudinal direction of the forms F for sliding of the clamping mechanism 23 between an inner position in which the clamping mechanism is between adjacent forms with the clamping elements 24 and 25 extending above and below one of the forms F for clamping of a stocking S inwardly of the toe T thereof (FIGURES 2 and 3) and an outer position beyond the ends of the forms F and adjacent the suction means 18 at which the stocking toe T is drawn outwardly by the suction means 18 into feeding disposition to the sewing machine M (FIGURES 1 and 4). Movement of the clamping mechanism 23 on the carriage member 38 is accomplished by a pneumatic piston-cylinder mechanism 39 mounted on an inward extension 38' of the carriage member and having a rod 39 aligned with the slideway 37 and attached to the slide member 30. The pistoncylinder mechanism 39 and the carriage member 38 are located below the level of the forms F to avoid interference therewith during travel of the forms.

The aforementioned pivoting of the clamping mechanism 23 is provided for reorienting the stocking toe T into an angular disposition with respect to the suction means 18 and sewing machine M for forming of a toe seam angularly with respect to the stocking S as seen in the FIGURE 7 illustration of a seamed stocking. This facilitates the desired contouring of the stocking toe T when the stocking S is boarded during subsequent processing thereof. This angular reorienting of the stocking toe T by pivoting of the clamping mechanism 23 is controlled by a horizontal cam finger 40 mounted on the clamping mechanism base portion 29 and extending laterally thereof for engagement with a cam post 41 extending upwardly from the carriage member 38 in the path of the cam finger 40 adjacent the outer position of the clamping mechanism 23 so that when the clamping mechanism 23 slides outwardly the cam finger 40 will engage the cam post and cause the clamping mechanism 23 to pivot on the pivot post 31 to the angular position shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. When the clamping mechanism 23 is moved to return to the inner position, the cam finger 40 moves away from the cam post 41 with the aforementioned spring 34 acting to pivotally return the clamping mechanism 23 to its initial position parallel with the direction of travel of the forms F. This return pivotin is positively initiated by a return cam bar 42 that extends upwardly from the carriage member 38 in the path of the pivoted position of the base portion 29.

When the clamping mechanism 23 is in its aforementioned outer position, the outer ends of the clamping elements 24 and 25 are closely adjacent the suction means mouth and the feeding path of the sewing machine M, but due to the pivoting of the clamping mechanism 23 the portions of the clamping elements adjacent the guide posts 26 are spaced from the suction means mouth 20 and sewing machine M. To provide support of the stocking toe T at the suction means mouth 20 and during feeding to the sewing machine M, the lower clamping element extends outwardly under the stocking toe T to an outer edge 25" that is disposed at an angle with respect to the clamping elements and is closely adjacent and parallel with the suction means mouth 20 and sewing machine feed path when the clamping mechanism 23 is in its outer pivoted position.

The carriage member 38 is formed with a base portion 43 under the slideway 37 and slidably carried in the slideway 44 of a horizontally extending frame member 45 that is secured to and extends inwardly from the table 10 with the slideway 44 arranged parallel with the direction of form travel for guiding the clamping mechanism 23 along the direction of form travel and along the direction of feed through the sewing machine M when the clamping mechanism is in its aforementioned outer position.

The carriage member 38 and clamping mechanism 23 carried thereon is moved along the frame member slideway 44 from an initial position adjacent the suction means mouth 20 past the sewing machine M by a chain 46 mounted below the carriage member 38 on spaced sprockets 47 and 48. One of the sprockets is an idler sprocket 47 and is mounted on an axle 49 extending from a bracket 50 that depends from the frame member 45 slightly in advance of the initial carriage member position and slightly therebelow. The other sprocket is a driven sprocket 48 and is mounted on an axle 51 extending from a bracket 52 located in advance of the position of the carriage member 38 after it has passed the sewing machine M. This driven sprocket axle 51 extends beyond the driven sprocket 48 and has mounted thereon a drive sprocket 53 around which is trained a drive chain 54 that is also trained around a sprocket 55 on a main drive shaft 56 extending from the means that advances the forms F such that travel of the carriage member 38 will be synchronized with the travel of the forms F. Engagement of the carriage member 38 by the associated chain 46 is accomplished by three lugs 57 equally spaced along the chain 46 and extending outwardly therefrom into engagement with the trailing edge of the carriage member 38. These lugs 57 are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between forms F to provide repetitive synchronized movement of the clamping mechanism 23 with the forms F. The end of the movement of the carriage member 38 by the chain lugs 57 occurs when the lugs pass around the driven sprocket 48 downwardly out of engagement with the trailing edge of the carriage member 38 (FIG 4). The carriage member 38 is returned by a piston-cylinder mechanism 58 mounted on an extension 45' of the frame member 45 parallel with the frame member slideaway 44 and aligned with the path of movement of the carriage member 38, with the rod 58' of the piston-cylinder mechanism 58 being engageable with the carriage member 38 and having a stroke sufficient to return the carriage member to its initial position adjacent the suction means mouth 20.

In the embodiment illustrated, the return of the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 from its final position (FIG. 4) beyond the sewing machine M to its initial outer position (FIG. 1) adjacent the suction means mouth 20 as well as movement of the clamping mechanism 23 to its inner position (FIGS. 2 and 3) to pick up a stocking S and its movement back to its initial outer position (FIG. 1) with a stocking all occur while the travel of the forms F and the chain 46 is stopped. The forms F move only when the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 move from the initial outer position to the final position past the sewing machine M.

Travel of the forms F and movement of the various aforementioned clamping means components are controlled by a synchronous motor-driven timer 59 that provides synchronized sequential operation in a continuously repeating pattern. This timer 59 is shown in FIGURE 6 mounted in the lower portion of the table 10. It includes an electric motor 60 that drives a gear train 61 that in turn drives a cam shaft 62 on which are mounted a series of six cams each associated with a switch for controlling the different functions described hereinabove. The first cam 63 and its associated switch 64 control a first solenoid valve 65 that controls pneumatic operation of the pistoncylinder mechanism 27 for raising and lowering of the upper clamping element 24. The second cam 66 and its associated switch 67 control a second solenoid valve 68 that controls pneumatic operation of the piston-cylinder mechanism 58 for return of the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 from the final position beyond the sewing machine M to the outer position adjacent the suction means mouth 20. The third cam 69 and associated switch 70 control a third solenoid valve 71 that controls the pneumatic operation of the pistoncylinder mechanism 28 for lowering and raising the lower clamping element 25. The fourth cam 72 and associated switch 73 control a fourth solenoid valve 74 that controls pneumatic operation of the piston-cylinder mechanism 39 for movement of the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 from the outer position adjacent the suction means mouth 20 to the inner position and back to the outer position. The fifth cam 75 and associated switch 76 control operation of the drive motor 60 to rotate the cam shaft 62. The sixth cam 77 and associated switch 78 control operation of the main motor that drives the forms F and through the main drive shaft 56 also causes the carriage member 38 and clamping mechanism 23 to advance simultaneously therewith. Also included in this control system is a microswitch 79 mounted on the frame member 45 beyond the sewing machine M in the path of the carriage member 38 for switch closing engagement thereby when the carriage member 38 is in its final position past the sewing machine M. This microswitch 79 closes an electrical circuit to the cam drive motor 60 to cause cam shaft rotation until the pistoncylinder mechanism 58 functions to return the carriage member 38 away from the microswitch 79, by which time the cam shaft 62 has rotated sulficiently to cause the fifth cam 75 to close the fifth switch 76 and thereby cause further operation of the drive motor 60.

The various cams are adjustably set so that the components of the apparatus will function in the following sequence. Starting, for example, with the clamping elements 24 and 25 open and the carriage member 38 at its final position beyond the sewing machine M closing the microswitch 79, the drive motor 60 will be energized through the microswitch 79 to cause the cam shaft 62 to rotate. As the cam shaft 62 rotates, the second cam 66 will function first to cause operation of the piston-cylinder mechanism 58 to move the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 to the outer position adjacent the suction means mouth 20. The fourth cam 72 will then function to cause the piston-cylinder mechanism 39 to slide the clamping mechanism 23 from the outer position to the inner position with the open clamping elements 24 and 25 over and under an adjacent form F. The first and third cams, 63 and 69, respectively, will then function to operate the pistoncylinder mechanisms 27 and 28 for closing of the clamping elements 24 and 25 on a stocking S carried on the form inwardly of the stocking toe T, which clamping elements will remain closed until the clamping mechanism 23 again reaches the final position beyond the sewing machine M. After the clamping elements have initially closed, the fourth cam 72 will function to operate the piston-cylinder mechanism 39 for return of the carriage member 38 and clamping mechanism 23 to the outer position adjacent the suction means mouth 20 with the clamped stocking S being advanced therewith to position the stocking toe T at the suction means mouth 20 for outward positioning thereby in the proper feeding path to the sewing machine M. The sixth cam then functions to energize the main drive motor to cause the forms to travel, which, through the main drive shaft 56, drive chain 54 and lugged chain 46 will cause the carriage member 38 and clamping mechanism 23 to travel simultaneously with the forms F to feed the stocking toe T past the stitch point P of the sewing machine M, thereby closing the stocking toe T. When the carriage member 38 and associated clamping mechanism 23 reach the final position past the sewing machine M, the sixth cam 77 will function to stop further travel of the forms F, the first and third cams 63 and 69, respectively, will function to cause the clamping elements 24 and 25 to open for release of the stocking S so that the stocking will be free to continue to travel thereafter with the form on which it is carried, the microswitch 79 will be closed to energize the drive motor 60 and the second cam 66 will again function to initiate a repeat of the cycle. Conveniently, a main cutoff switch can be located in the circuit with the microswitch 79 so that the operation can be stopped at the final position beyond the sewing machine M with the clamping elements open.

The synchronous motor-driven timer 59 may be of any conventional type, such as the series HL model sold by Eagle Signal Division of E. W. Bliss Co. of Davenport, Iowa.

Although the foregoing detailed description deals -with closing of toes of ladies stockings, the present invention is applicable as well to closing of toes of mens hose and to cloing of ends of various other types of tubular fabric articles.

In the preferred embodiment described hereinabove, the travel of the forms F is intermittent as there is a dwell period during which the clamping mechanism moves between forms F and clamps a stocking S and returns to its outer position. The invention is applicable as well, however, to a continuously traveling form system, in which case the clamping mechanism 23 would move with the forms as it moves between the forms to clamp and advance stockings to the suction means 18 and sewing machine M. Similarly, other means of manipulating the clamping means 23 to perform the operations of the present invention could be utilized in place of the abovedescribed piston-cylinder mechanism and chain drive. Additionally, other substitute arrangements for accom plishing the same purposes may be utilized without de parting from the intended scope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles, said apparatus comprising means for clamping a tubular fabric article inwardly of and closely adjacent an end to be closed thereof, means for closing said end of said clamped article, said clamping means being movable relative to said closing means to feed said article end therethrough, and pneumatic suction means in advance of said closing means and operable on said clamped article end to position it outwardly of said clamping means in feeding disposition relative to said closing means.

2. Apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said clamping means is movable past said closing means and is operable to unclamp the closed-end article beyond said closing means.

3. Apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said clamping means is operable to shift angularly with respect to the direction of feed through said closing means to reorient said clamped article end with respect to said closing means.

4. Apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular fabric articles according to claim 3 and characterized further in that said clamping means shifts to an angular disposition with respect to said direction of feed and includes an article end supporting portion extending outwardly therefrom under said article end and having an outer edge disposed parallel to said direction of feed and closely adjacent said closing means when said angularly shifted clamping means feeds said article through said closing means.

5. Apparatus for automatically closing the toe of a stocking or the like that is carried on a horizontally extending form having a free end at which said stocking toe is located, said apparatus comprising toe closing means disposed at an outward spacing from said form free end, means for clamping said stocking inwardly of and closely adjacent said toe thereof and operable to advance said stocking toe from said form free end to and through said closing means without completely removing the stocking from the form, and pneumatic suction means in advance of said closing means and operable on said clamped toe to position it outwardly of said clamping means in feeding disposition relative to said closing means.

6. Apparatus for automatically closing the toe of a stocking or the like according to claim 5 and characterized further in that said closing means is disposed for feeding of the stocking toe therethrough in a direction transverse to the length of the form, and said clamping means advances said stocking toe lengthwise of the form to said suction means and then transversely of the length of the form along said direction of feed through said closing means.

7. Apparatus for automatically closing the toe of a stocking or the like according to claim 5 and characterized further in that said clamping means is operable to shift angularly to reorient said stocking toe with respect to said closing means feeding direction, and said clamping means includes a pair of vertically opposed clamping elements with the lower clamping element extending outwardly under said stocking toe for support thereof and terminating at an outer edge that is parallel to said feeding direction and closely adjacent said closing means when said angularly shifted clamping means advances said stocking toe through said closing means.

8. Apparatus for automatically closing the toe of a stocking or the like according to claim 5 and characterized further in that said suction means has a wide fiat mouth aligned with said stocking toe for effective posi tioning thereof outwardly of said clamping means for closing.

9. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like sequentially as the stockings are carried on a series of horizontal forms that travel along a lateral path and have free longitudinal ends at which the stocking toes are located, said apparatus comprising toe closing means spaced outwardly from said form free ends and having a feeding direction parallel to said form path, pneumatic suction means in advance of said closing means and having a suction mouth facing said forms along the line of closing means feed, and means operable in relation to the forms individually as the forms sequentially travel past said suction means and said toe closing means for clamping the stocking on a form inwardly of and closely adjacent said toe thereof, advancing said clamped stocking lengthwise of the form to advance the toe thereof from the form free end to said suction means for outward positioning thereof by said suction means in feeding disposition relative to said toe closing means, advancing said clamped stocking along said feeding direction through said toe closing means to effect closing of said stocking toe, and releasing said stocking beyond said toe closing means for continued travel of the closed toe stocking with the form on which it is carried.

10. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 9 and characterized further in that said last-named means shifts angularly upon advancing of said stocking toe to said suction means to reorient said stocking toe angularly with respect to said feeding direction.

11. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 10 and characterized further in that said last-named means has a pair of vertically disposed clamping elements with the lower clamping element extending outwardly under said stocking toe for support thereof and terminating at an outer edge that is parallel to said feeding direction and closely adjacent said line of closing means feed.

12. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 9 and characterized further in that said last-named means includes a stocking clamping mechanism having a pair of vertically opposed clamping elements extending laterally therefrom, means for opening and closing said clamping elements, means for moving said clamping mechanism between an inner position between forms with a form between said clamping elements for clamping of a stocking thereby and an outer position beyond said forms and adjacent said suction means for positioning said stocking toe for closing, and means for moving said clamping mechanism in said outer position parallel with said feeding direction to feed said stocking toe through said toe closing means.

13. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 12 and characterized further by means for returning said clamping mechanism to its position adjacent said suction means following said stocking toe feed through said toe closing means.

14. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 12 and characterized further in that said means for moving said clamp ing mechanism parallel to said feeding direction moves said clamping means synchronously with said traveling forms.

15. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 12 and characterized further by means for pivoting said clamping mechanism about a vertical axis during said movement thereof from said inner position to said outer position to reorient said stocking toe angularly with respect to said feeding direction.

16. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 9 and characterized further in that said last-named means includes a stocking clamping mechanism having a pair of vertically opposed clamping elements extending laterally therefrom, means for opening and closing said clamping elements, a carriage member supporting said clamping mechanism for sliding thereon lengthwise with respect to said forms, means for sliding said clamping mechanism on said carriage member between an inner position between forms with a form between said clamping elements for clamping of a stocking thereby and an outer position beyond said forms and adjacent said suction means for positioning said stocking toe for closing, a frame member supporting said carriage member for sliding thereon parallel with said feeding direction, and means for sliding said carriage member on said frame member to move said clamping mechanism for feeding said stocking toe through said closing means.

17. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 16 and characterized further by means for sliding said carriage member on said frame member to return said carriage member to said outer position adjacent said suction means for subsequent movement to said inner position by said clamping mechanism sliding means.

18. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 16 and characterized further in that said means for sliding said carriage member moves said carriage member synchronously with said traveling forms.

19. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 16 and charac terized further in that said clamping mechanism is supported for pivoting about a vertical axis, and camming means is mounted on said carriage member for engagement with said clamping mechanism as said clamping mechanism approaches said suction means to pivot said clamping mechanism for reorienting said clamping elements and stocking toe angularly with respect to said feeding direction.

20. Apparatus for automatically closing the toes of stockings or the like according to claim 19 and characterized further in that the lower of said vertically opposed clamping elements extends outwardly under said stocking toe for support thereof and terminates at an outer edge that is parallel to said feeding direction and closely adjacent said line of closing means feed when said clamping mechanism is in said outer pivoted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,979,802 4/1961 Funchion et al. 22343 3,149,594 9/1964 Buckreus et al. 1l2252 3,204,591 9/1965 Pickett. 3,252,437 5/1966 Pickett 112136 3,327,664 6/1967 Bryan et al. 112102 XR 3,351,033 11/1967 Kienel.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 1l2l22, 252 

